Rowdy Gaines On Phelps: ‘I Don’t Think We’ve Seen The Last Of Michael’

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Rowdy Gaines, three-time gold medalist in swimming and current NBC broadcaster, called into The Norris and Davis show to talk about Michael Phelps and his upcoming Olympics in London.

With Michael Phelps and fellow swimmer Ryan Lochte competing against each other in many races, Gaines said it’s going to be hard for the two to come together as a part of one or two of the swimming relays they will compete in as a team.

“Well, I think that’s the dilemma Michael and his main rival Ryan Lochte, are going to have in [London]. Those guys are going to have to compete against each other and not like each other very much. But at the the same time they’ve got to swim at least one relay together, probably two,” he said.

Gaines said it is going to be near impossible for Phelps to win all seven of the races he is competing in.

“I think it’s almost impossible to have that perfect storm again that we had in 2008. There were so many things that had to fall perfectly in place for him. I’ll say he’ll win seven medals. Are they all going to be gold? Maybe not, but he’s going to give it his best shot that’s for sure.”

Gaines also said there is one thing that sets Phelps apart for the other swimmers he competes against.

“I think at the end of the day he’s a guy that hates to lose more than he likes to win. I think it drives Michael crazy and I think that’s the way he’s wired, especially that last 10 meters when he’s racing home,” he said.

Despite Phelps claiming this will be his last Olympics, Gaines isn’t so sure that’s true.

“I think in two-and-a-half years you’re going to see Michael Phelps back in the pool. He’s going to take a couple of years off and realize he misses it and he’s going to come back. I think he deserves a break, and he deserves to be retired. He has nothing else to prove that’s for sure. But I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Michael.”